No Referendum on EU Constitution

Published fredag 29 april 2005 kl 11.02

Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson has repeated his government’s opposition to holding a referendum here on the new European Union constitution.

Persson was speaking during a debate on the EU in the Swedish parliament Friday. Many critics, including his minority government’s parliamentary allies, have demanded that the people be allowed to vote on the issue.

But the prime minister told parliament that he doesn’t consider the changes in the new constitution major enough to warrant a referendum.

Last year Persson and most of the political establishment tried and failed to get the Swedish electorate to approve adopting the euro.

Our journalism is based on credibility and impartiality. Swedish Radio is independent and not affiliated to any political, religious, financial, public or private interests.